Syv: Hello everyone! I'm back! I won't spend long here. I just wanted to update sooner to make it up to all of you. I know, I know, that last chap took me too long and it was way too short and crappy. :P Well, this one will be better hopefully. I'm not sure how long it'll be though…Oh yeah, before I forget, the song in this chapter is "Chiquitita" by Abba. Well, hope you enjoy.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters of CCS. ^^

(Translation) ~only for uncommon words

'Thoughts'

"Talking"

Author note

Song

In the last episode: 'I wonder if Kero-chan and Yue-san are okay…' she thought worriedly, when the picture of a redheaded guy popped in her mind, 'and that Xue guy too.'

            It had been a few days already since the disappearance of Sakura's guardians. She was very worried and she was afraid that more people who are close to her would vanish too. She was often worrying during classes, not paying attention at all to the teacher unless her attention was called. The gang noticed her absent-mindedness and worry for her guardians. But no matter what they said, Sakura didn't feel any better. Finally, the weekend arrived. The gang came up with a plan to put Sakura at ease for a while.

            "Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo called to her best friend during dismissal time, Friday afternoon.

            "Hmm?" Sakura replied, snapping out of her thoughts.

            "Well, I was wondering if it's all right for you to sleep at my house over the weekend. You know, to catch up and stuff? We haven't been able to for a while now," Tomoyo explained slowly.

            "I really don't think so, Tomoyo-chan. I…"

            "Onegai Sakura-chan? Just for this weekend? Please???" Tomoyo pleaded.

            She gave Sakura her puppy dog eyes, and finally Sakura said, "Okay, okay."

            "Yeah! I'll see you later in front of your house at 6:00?" Tomoyo asked.

            Sighing, Sakura nodded her head as she left the room to go home. Tomoyo glanced at the others and they all exchanged looks.

            'Finally!' They all thought.

            With Sakura at Tomoyo's house, it might give her a little rest from all her problems.

            Later, at 5:55pm, in the Kinomoto household…

            CRASH! BANG!

"Oh my gosh! Tomoyo's gonna be here any minute! Ah! Where are my shoes? My bag?" Sakura frantically looked around her room.

After several minutes, Sakura got herself together and just in time. The doorbell rang as Tomoyo arrived. Sakura rushed downstairs telling Touya and her dad she'd get the door.

Opening the door to admit the raven-haired teen, she greeted, "Konbanwa (good evening) Tomoyo-chan!"

"Konbanwa (good evening) to you too Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo replied, "Are you ready to go?"

"Yup! Hold on while I tell 'touchan and 'niichan."

She rushed up to their rooms and said a quick "goodbye, I'll see you after the weekend" to the two of them before rushing out the door with Tomoyo. Tomoyo's bodyguards took Sakura's bag and put it in the limousine as the two teens entered the car. The trip was a quick one and soon, they were at Tomoyo's mansion-like house.

Immediately going to Tomoyo's room, of course greeting Tomoyo's mom on the way, they both plopped down on her bed. Sakura's duffel bag lay at the foot of the bed where she dropped it. The room was big, not surprising for someone like Tomoyo, and Sakura's bed, a mattress at the side of Tomoyo's big one, lay fixed near Sakura's bag.

The two took turns to take a bath, since it was late already, before taking a little snack. Tomoyo called for one of the servants to bring up some small cakes and tea while the two of them got ready. As they were waiting for the snacks to arrive, they sat on top of Tomoyo's bed facing each other.

"Listen Tomoyo, I know you guys are worried about me that's why you invited me here. Really, I'm fine. You guys don't have to worry at all," Sakura said.

"You shouldn't worry about it, Sakura-chan. You're right that that is the reason I invited you here but what I said this afternoon was true too. We haven't been able to talk like this for a long time," Tomoyo said smiling.

Sakura sighed, "I guess so."

The cakes and tea arrived and Tomoyo put the tray in between the two girls. When the maid left, closing the door behind her, the two resumed their discussion.

They picked on the small cakes and drank their tea slowly as they chatted about numerous topics. After awhile, their topic turned to the two boys in their group.

"So, Sakura-chan, what do you think of Li-kun?" Tomoyo asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Syaoran-kun? He's a great friend. He always helps me when I'm in need and he comforts me often. Why do you ask?" Sakura replied, confused at the question.

Sighing inwardly at her best friend's denseness, Tomoyo answered, "Oh, no reason."

Suddenly remembering something, cat ears popped onto Sakura's head as she asked slyly, "By the way, what's with you and Eriol-kun?"

Surprised at Sakura's question, she blushed and immediately answered, "Nothing! What ever gave you the idea that there's something between me and E-Hiirigizawa-kun?"

She almost said "Eriol-kun". Luckily, Sakura was too dense to notice it.

"Really? I thought you guys were a couple…" Sakura sighed.

"Sakura-chan, you know I promised never to fall in love again," Tomoyo said softly.

"Tomoyo-chan…" Sakura murmured, sorrow for her friend reflecting in her eyes.

*****Flashback*****

            A younger Tomoyo sat in one of the swings in Penguin Park with Sakura. It was a year before the Void Card appeared. Syaoran and Eriol were out of the country.

            The two girls chatted about their friends who were in other countries.

            "I wish Syaoran-kun and Meiling-chan were here," Sakura sighed.

            Tomoyo agreed, "I miss them. I even miss Hiirigizawa-kun and Akizuki-san."

            The two girls continued to talk. Suddenly, a boy entered the park. He was dressed in a casual black collared shirt with the top buttons open and matching pants and his smooth black hair was slicked back giving him a handsome look. He had dark purple eyes that glinted often and he possessed a lean yet you well developed figure. He spotted the two girls and walked up to them.

Seeing the boy walking towards them, Sakura and Tomoyo waved to him.

"Konnichiwa (good afternoon)!" the two girls greeted.

"Konnichiwa (good afternoon)," was the boy's polite answer.

"We haven't seen you around here. What's your name?" Tomoyo asked politely.

"Ah, I'm new here. I will be attending Tomoeda Elementary starting Monday. Watashi wa Onozumi Koreka." The boy answered.

"Ome ni kakarete ureshii desu (pleased to meet you). Atashi wa Daidouji Tomoyo (I am Tomoyo Daidouji)," Tomoyo replied.

"Atashi wa Kinomoto Sakura (I am Sakura Kinomoto). Did you say Tomoeda Elementary? We go there too. We're in grade 5 class 2," Sakura said.

"Ah, I'll be in grade 5 class 2 also! We'll be classmates then."

"Great! Welcome to Tomoeda then, Onozumi-san" Sakura said cheerfully.

However, she didn't notice that Koreka had been watching Tomoyo the whole time. Even Tomoyo didn't notice it for she was watching Sakura with a smile.

Finally turning to Koreka, Tomoyo smiled at him and said, "Would you want us to show you around the place then, Onozumi-san?"

"Ah, please call me Kore. I would enjoy touring this wonderful city with you," he said with a slight bow.

So, the two girls ended up touring the new boy all around Tomoeda the whole afternoon. Then, as the sun began to set, they parted ways.

"We shall see you tomorrow at school Kore-san," Tomoyo said with a wave as she and Sakura headed towards Sakura's house.

~#####~

            The next day at school, the teacher introduced Kore to Sakura and Tomoyo's class. Everyone greeted him warmly, and by the end of the day, he had plenty of friends.

            Of course, though there were many girls, he had his eyes on Tomoyo alone. Everyday, he continued to watch Tomoyo. Her graceful movements, her cheery smile, her nicely developed body, he couldn't keep his eyes off her. He was smitten by her. She was everything he could ask for, intelligent, innocent, kind and beautiful. He didn't exactly "love" her though. He just wanted to toy around with her, and to be able to do that, he had to make her love him first.

           Tomoyo, however, was oblivious to his "love" as she regarded him as any other friend she had. As the days went on, he tried to spend more time alone with her. After a few weeks, Tomoyo's friends could tell that he liked the raven-haired girl. They often teased her about it but she shrugged it off. Then, one afternoon, Kore decided to make his move. He caught her alone near her locker.

            "Konnichiwa (good afternoon) Tomoyo-san," he started.

            Looking up at Kore, Tomoyo smiled and greeted him too.

            "You know Tomoyo," he moved his face towards hers and brushed her ear with his lips, "I've been watching you. I love you."

            Tomoyo gasped as Kore moved his face so he was looking at her eyes again. Then, before Tomoyo could comprehend fully what happened, Kore kissed her passionately in the lips. At first, Tomoyo was too shocked to respond. But as Kore deepened the kiss, the passion in it compelled her to kiss back.

            When they finally broke away from lack of air, Tomoyo looked at him with a small smile, "I love you."

            Kore grinned maliciously before kissing her again and pushing her against the lockers. Tomoyo kissed him back as Kore forcefully pushed his tongue into Tomoyo's mouth. She moaned lowly just as Kore's tongue started to explore her mouth.

~#####~

After that, Tomoyo started to spend more time with Kore. Sakura and the others noticed this but they didn't comment on it. Tomoyo would end up spending more time alone with Kore, leaving Sakura and the gang to themselves during breaks.

One afternoon at lunchtime, Tomoyo told Sakura that she had to meet with Kore on the roof and that she wouldn't be eating with them.

'Not that she eats with us anymore anyway,' Sakura thought.

Sakura just nodded though as Tomoyo left the classroom heading to the roof of the building. Sakura sighed inwardly, missing the companionship of her best friend and cousin. Noticing something on her friend's desk, she found Tomoyo's lunchbox. Deciding on bringing it up to her friend, she looked out the window and spotted the gang. She waved to them, and seeing as they saw her, she shouted out, "I'm just going to bring up Tomoyo's lunchbox to the roof. She forgot it. You guys eat ahead. I'll be back soon."

Seeing her friends' nods, she headed to the roof. However, the sight that greeted her as she reached the roof wasn't at all comforting.

There, pressed against the wall near the door, was Tomoyo. Kore was pressed against her with his lips on her neck. Her uniform was open, flapping wildly in the wind, showing off things that shouldn't be shown. Kore's hands were just about to explore the other parts of her body besides her lips. But what blew Sakura up was the fact that there were tears in Tomoyo's eyes.

"ONOZUMI KOREKA!!!" Sakura screamed at him as he reluctantly got off Tomoyo.

He watched as Sakura stomped towards him with her eyes ablaze. He just smirked at her.

"She was so cooperative each time I kissed her. We had such fun together. I just thought we could take it a little further," he said lazily, as if it explained everything.

This angered Sakura even more. Her usually cheerful pink aura now held anger and hate. It blazed wildly around her, not that Kore could see it anyway.

In a surprisingly calm voice, Sakura said, "I left my very best friend in the whole wide world in your hands thinking you could take care of her. I tried not to mind it whenever she would say she had to meet you. I gave her to you…and this is how you treat her!"

With that, Sakura took carefully calculated steps towards Kore. The blaze in Sakura's eyes scared Kore as he started to back away. Suddenly, the fence came up against Kore's back as Sakura continued to advance towards him. When she stood one foot away from him, he noticed her fist clench and unclench. Then, before he could do anything, a really strong force hit him square in the face. Sakura had punched him.

'This girl is definitely not someone to toy around with,' Kore concluded as he felt blood trickle down his nose.

Sakura punched him again across the face, "This is for Tomoyo!"

"You think you're good don't you little girl," Kore said as he staggered lightly.

He aimed a punch at her but she ducked. Being a card mistress has its advantages. Before Sakura could hit him again, the door to the roof opened.

There stood Yamazaki, Rika, Naoko, and Chiharu. The girls gasped at the sight of Tomoyo while Yamazaki glared at Kore. As the girls ran to Tomoyo to help her, Yamazaki quickly strode towards Kore who was still staggering from Sakura's punches.

Seeing Yamazaki heading her way, Sakura stepped aside as Yamazaki punched Kore in the stomach. Just as he was about to punch the "jerk" again, Sakura stopped him.

"Yamette (stop it), Yamazaki. I'll take care of him," Sakura said in a calm voice.

The girls heard her as they looked up after helping Tomoyo stand and button her uniform. Yamazaki stepped aside as Sakura took his place in front of Kore.

Kore smirked at her and said, "I'm not afraid of you."

Sakura didn't flinch as she said in a voice that she's never used before, "Well, you should be. You've hurt my best friend, my cousin…no, she's more than that. You hurt my SISTER!"

With that, Sakura punched him again in the stomach, before tripping him with her foot.

"Get up! Get up and leave! Never come back, and don't you ever come near Tomoyo or any of my friends EVER AGAIN!"

Kore shakily got up as he glared at her before running out the door. The girls and Yamazaki continued to stare at Sakura. She's never acted this way before and it was positively scary. They could feel her angry aura even if they didn't have any magic.

But Tomoyo stared at her with a different emotion. She wasn't scared, she was glad. She was so glad for all her friends' concern, and especially for Sakura.

"Sakura!" Tomoyo said as she shakily ran to Sakura and hugged her.

Sakura turned around to face Tomoyo, worry evident on her face.

"Tomoyo-chan! Daijoubu desu ka (are you all right)? Did that guy hurt you in any way? Did he…"

Sakura was cut off by her friend's weeping.

"Tomoyo-chan!" The gang surrounded the weeping girl.

"Tomoyo-chan! What's wrong? Are you hurt?" they all asked her, concern lacing their voices.

Tomoyo shook her head as she looked up at them and offered a watery smile, "I'm not hurt. Sakura-chan came here just in time. He didn't do anything to me. I'm just so happy you guys aren't mad at me. I've been such a fool! I never really loved him. I don't know why I did what I did. And you guys didn't abandon me even when I no longer spend time with you guys. I don't go with you and I leave you alone during breaks. How can you still manage to forgive me? How can you still manage to be with me? I promise I'll never fall in love ever again!"

They all smiled at their friend as Sakura spoke up, "Because you're our friend of course! That's how we can manage to be with you and stay by you no matter what you did! Friends aren't there just for the good times. They're only considered friends if they're there through all the bad times, right?"

Tomoyo looked up at Sakura, "Arigatou Sakura-chan, for everything."

"You know, I meant what I said. I do consider you a sister, Tomoyo-chan," Sakura said.

Tomoyo hugged her as the others looked at the two best friends.

"Tomoyo-chan, maybe you should go to the clinic for the rest of the day? We'll take down your notes for you," Chiharu suggested.

"Yeah, you should," the others agreed.

Looking down for a moment, Tomoyo smiled at them and said, "Okay, arigatou."

*****End Flashback*****

            Sighing to herself, Sakura suggested something to get their minds off the depressing topic, "I know! Why don't we sing karaoke? You have a karaoke machine here, right?"

            Blinking, Tomoyo totally forgot all about their talk a while ago, "Yeah…wait, I'll go get it."

            When Tomoyo came back with the karaoke mike as she inserted it in the television.

            "Okay! I'll sing first!" Sakura said, as cheerful as ever.

            Thumbing through the list of songs, she found a very interesting song, 'Maybe this will cheer Tomoyo up.'

            She typed in the number as the title of the song appeared on the screen. Music began to play and the words started to appear.

Chiquitita, tell me what's wrong
You're enchained by your own sorrow
In your eyes there is no hope for tomorrow
How I hate to see you like this
There is no way you can deny it
I can see that you're oh so sad, so quiet

            Sakura glanced at Tomoyo before continuing her song.

Chiquitita, tell me the truth
I'm a shoulder you can cry on
Your best friend, I'm the one you must rely on
You were always sure of yourself
Now I see you've broken a feather
I hope we can patch it up together

Chiquitita, you and I know
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they're leaving
You'll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You will have no time for grieving
Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita

 

So the walls came tumbling down
And your love's a blown out candle
All is gone and it seems too hard to handle
Chiquitita, tell me the truth
There is no way you can deny it
I see that you're oh so sad, so quiet

            Tomoyo slowly understood what Sakura was trying to do. Small tears glistened in her eyes.

Chiquitita, you and I know
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they're leaving
You'll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You will have no time for grieving
Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita

            Sakura hoped that Tomoyo understood her as she continued to sing with her heart. Tomoyo deserved someone who would take care of her.

Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita

Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita

            Sakura looked at Tomoyo as the song ended and the score appeared on the screen. She saw the tears in Tomoyo's eyes and she immediately put down the mike to rush to her best friend.

            "Tomoyo-chan! Daijoubu desu ka (are you all right)? What's wrong?"

            Tomoyo shook her head as she replied, "Nothing's wrong Sakura-chan. I know you'll always be there to help me. But I really don't think I could love again after that experience."

            "Iie Tomoyo-chan! I know you can love again! You just need someone to help you!" Sakura said quickly before adding, "Everyone deserves someone to take care of them."

            Tomoyo smiled at this comment as the two friends hugged each other.

~#####~

            As school came along, Tomoyo still remembered Sakura's words to her on Saturday night.

            As she entered the classroom, she was greeted with Sakura's cheery smile, "Ohayo Tomoyo-chan!"

            Syaoran, Meiling and Eriol all smiled at her and greeted her with the same cheery note. Chiharu and the others greeted her in the same way too.

            'My friends…' she thought to herself as she smiled and greeted them too.

            Her gaze suddenly lingered on the azure-eyed magician. Suddenly realizing she was staring at Eriol too long, she shook her head.

            'No, I can't…'

            Eriol noticed Tomoyo shaking her head as she made her way to her seat. When she sat down, he asked, "Tomoyo-san, daijoubu desu ka (are you all right)?"

            Glancing up at the former Creator of the Clow Cards, she felt a blush creeping its way unto her cheeks. Shaking her head slightly to remove herself of the pinkish hue, she answered, "Hai, daijoubu!"

            Still a bit worried, Eriol said, "Are you sure? Well, if anything's wrong, just tell me. I'll help you in any way I can."

            With that, he sat down just as the teacher came in. Sakura, on the other hand, noticed the soft pinkish hue adorning the raven-haired goddess' cheeks.

            "Hmmm…maybe…"

Syv: Does that make up for it? I hope it's all right. I know, it's mostly about Tomoyo's flashback. Well, in any case, I hope it makes up for that crappy chapter. Well, please review. I'd really appreciate it! ^^